1. Bring extra clothes for you and babe in your carry on.

2. Change diaper right before you get on the flight and if you’re lucky you can avoid the airplane bathroom.

3. Bring LOTS of snacks.

4. Bring disposable “toys” that you don’t care about ending up on the floor, new toys can also be helpful!

5. Baby wear at the airport (even through security).

6. Stroller is great for hauling luggage, can plane side check.

7. Bring car seat - even if you don’t have a plane seat you can ask at the gate if there are open seats and they’ll give you one, otherwise can plane side check. Having their car seat makes the brand new familiar and keeps them contained. Definitely get a lightweight car seat for this (i.e., less than 10 lbs).

8. Allow a lot of time to get through the airport and get settled because it just takes longer with kids (and the adults moving their stuff for them).

9. Alllllll the rules about screen time go out the window and the goal is survival.

10. Baby on boob or bottle for take-off and landing!

11. Mental preparation of travel is hard. For everyone at every age. So give yourself and your kid and partner some grace. It’s definitely about just getting there, and how you do it doesn’t matter!

12. YOU CAN DO IT! Travel with kids is very different than without *but* exploring new places with kids is magical!

Special thanks to Emilia Merchen and Sarah Magner for these wonderful, *life-saving* tips!

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